T-Mobile workers to get training assistance

Program provides pay, health care for up to 21/2 years to those who lose jobs to offshoring.

July 17, 2012|By Spencer Soper, Of The Morning Call

More than 600 people who got laid off when T-Mobile closed its Lehigh Valley call center last month are eligible for a federal program that pays them and subsidizes their health insurance costs while they train for new jobs, the U.S. Department of Labor has ruled.

The agency determined that overseas call centers operated by T-Mobile contributed to the loss of American jobs, which makes the laid off workers eligible for assistance. T-Mobile has denied the call center closures were related to offshoring.

In March, the Bellevue, Wash., wireless carrier announced a consolidation that would close seven of its 24 U.S. call centers and eliminate 1,900 jobs. One of the shuttered call centers is on Roble Road in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.

The labor department's ruling means displaced T-Mobile workers are eligible for payments and other benefits for up to 2 1/2 years if they are training for new jobs.

"The health coverage is the most important thing," said a local T-Mobile worker, who plans to use the benefit to continue his education.

The Communications Workers of America in April petitioned the Department of Labor to grant assistance to displaced T-Mobile workers, maintaining T-Mobile sent call center jobs to Honduras, the Philippines and other countries to save money.

T-Mobile said it was surprised by the ruling but pleased its workers will get additional benefits.

"T-Mobile USA did not close call centers in order to send the work abroad," company spokesman Juan Cornejo said. "Like all other national wireless carriers in the United States, T-Mobile USA has long had and does utilize service partners both within the U.S. and in other countries."